R3810

UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS - The social history of country houses

Monday 13 September to Friday 17 September Residential: £379, Non-residential: £253

Please arrive by noon on Monday. Course ends with lunch on Friday.

The course explores the changing lifestyle of both family and servants between the Georgian period and the end of the Second World War. Topics discussed include the creation and maintenance of country house gardens and estates, family life, work and leisure. The composition and role of the domestic staff and estate workers during these years are also considered, as is the contribution made by the country house to local and national life. The course concludes by assessing the impact of technology, economic change and world war upon these two communities and the lifestyle which they maintained. The course features slides, video material and a visit to Tyntesfield – a spectacular, recently restored, Victorian country house in North Somerset.

Peter Street has been a history tutor in higher and adult education since 1975. Most his teaching is for Birkbeck College (University of London) and the Open University. He has been contributing to the Marlborough College Summer School since 1992 and has lectured for the National Portrait Gallery, the National Trust, the Historical Association and history societies generally.

N.B. The cost of the course includes transport to Tyntesfield but not admission costs.

R3810

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